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Schuylkill County’s retirees are hoping to get a cost-of-living adjustment in 2017.

Representatives from the county’s retirees association asked the commissioners Wednesday to consider raising pension for the first time since 2007.

“We have been waiting for 10 years,” Joan Deitrich, president of the association, said Wednesday.

Pensions are paid monthly out of the county’s retirement fund, which is made up of about a dozen cash and stock accounts. The county has about 500 retired workers.

The Hay Group serves as the county’s financial actuary for the retirement fund, which was just over $127 million on Wednesday.

Previously, it would have cost Schuylkill County millions to provide all its retirees with a COLA. However, legislation signed by Gov. Tom Wolf in 2015 no longer requires that any COLA be retroactive to the last year, making it more affordable for counties.

“We do now have the legislation that we can do it, and I think it is time we consider we do it,” Commissioner Frank J. Staudenmeier said.

Deitrich showed the commissioners Wednesday an email from Hank Steihl, senior consultant for The Hay Group, stating that a 0.3 percent increase for county employees for 2017 would cost $182,116.

“We have a letter from Hank Steihl who has named the amount that it would cost the county retirement fund this year, which is a pittance compared to the amount of the retirement fund,” Deitrich said. “Have you given consideration to a COLA increase this year for the retirees?”

Commissioner Gary J. Hess said the retirement board needs to discuss giving retirees a COLA with the change in legislation. The retirement board includes the three commissioners, treasurer and controller.

“It gives us an opportunity to start back at square one and to move forward,” Hess said. “I know it is a small amount, but I think it is something we need to look at.”

Commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said the board also has to consider the rising healthcare costs for all retirees.

“You also have to be respectful of all the obligations we have to all the retirees and that is why we go to our consultant from that standpoint to give us a view of where we need to be,” Halcovage said. “We are looking at all options.”

The commissioners said they will be schedule a meeting with representative from the retirees association, county officials and The Hay Group to discuss a COLA.

In other news, the county commissioners approved a raise for poll workers on election night.

The increase will start in 2018 when the new four-year terms start for the elected positions. The county has 125 election precincts and each precinct has a judge of elections, a minority inspector, a majority inspector and two clerks.

The board approved increases of $105 to $130 for the judge of elections, $100 to $110 for inspectors/clerks and $100 to $110 for constables. They also approved an additional $20 for minority inspectors to accompany the judge of election in transmitting the returns to the Schuylkill Transportation Building, Saint Clair.

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